TOPICAL GUANETHIDINE RELIEVES DENTINAL HYPERSENSITIVITY AND PAIN

The topical application of guanethidine solution to the affected teeth has been successful in relieving natural and clinically induced denti nal pain and hypersensitivity in 13 of 14 dental patients in a pilot s tudy. The mechanism of this analgesia was unclear but probably involve d anti-noradrenergic block as there was no evidence of local anaesthes ia. Further studies may generate new ideas about the cause of the excr uciating pain and hypersensitivity often associated with the acute exp osure of tooth dentine and lead to new ways of managing the discomfort s of dental conservation and restoration.